These spicy baked chicken wings are perfect for game day or anytime you need to whip up a casual, yet delicious, appetizer.

Making your own homemade flavored seasonings is easy. However, finding the perfect balance of flavors is more of an art than a science, because individual tastes vary so widely.

The proportions shared here offer a safe starting point. The whole black peppercorns impart a BOLD flavor to this seasoning, so it’s best to start with a small amount and adjust upwards until you find the level of heat you prefer. Once you do, you can create larger batches of this seasoning and store the remaining amounts in an airtight container for several months.

 

Prep time: 50 minutes (includes drying time for zest which can be done in advance)
Cook time: 50 minutes
Serves 4

 

Ingredients:

Lemon-Pepper Seasoning:

4-5 large organic lemons, zested
1 T. kosher salt
1 t. black peppercorns, crushed

 

 

 

 

Chicken Wings:
4 lbs. chicken wings, tips removed and patted dry
3 T. extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Position oven rack to center position and preheat oven to warm (lowest setting).

Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

To prepare the lemon-pepper seasoning, wash the lemons and pat dry. Remove zest from each lemon with a microplane. While doing so, collect as much of the flavorful yellow outer layer as possible, while avoiding the more bitter white layer below.

Spread the zest in a thin layer on the parchment paper and place in the oven. After 20 minutes, remove pan from oven and shake to make sure zest is drying evenly. Return to oven until thoroughly dried, approximately 25-30 minutes.

Remove dried lemon zest from the oven and increase oven temperature to 425°F.

Add dried lemon zest to spice grinder or food processor along with salt and black peppercorns. Grind ingredients until desired consistency is reached. Taste and adjust ratio of salt and pepper as desired.

In a large bowl, combine chicken wings with olive oil and 1 – 2 tablespoons of lemon-pepper seasoning and toss until evenly coated.

Arrange seasoned chicken wings in a single layer on rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Do not overcrowd. Place baking sheet on center rack of preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Remove baking sheet from oven and turn each wing to ensure they cook evenly on all sides. Return to oven and bake for another 20-25 minutes, or until wings are browned and crispy.

Remove from oven and serve immediately with sliced celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing, if desired.

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